By: Williams	S.B. No. 293
	(Ritter)

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the authority of certain water districts to hold
	meetings by teleconference or videoconference.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 551.131 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.131.  WATER DISTRICTS.  (a)  In this section,
	"water district" means a river authority, groundwater conservation
	district, water control and improvement district, or other district
	created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI,
	Texas Constitution.
	(b)  This section applies only to a water district whose
	territory includes land in three or more counties.
	(c)  A meeting held by telephone conference call or video
	conference call authorized by this section may be held only if:
	(1)  the meeting is a special called meeting and
	immediate action is required; and
	(2)  the convening at one location of a quorum of the
	governing body of the applicable water district is difficult or
	impossible.
	(d)  A meeting held by telephone conference call must
	otherwise comply with the procedures under Sections 551.125(c),
	(d), (e), and (f).
	(e)  A meeting held by video conference call is subject to
	the notice requirements applicable to other meetings.  In addition,
	a meeting held by video conference call shall:
	(1)  be visible and audible to the public at the
	location specified in the notice of the meeting as the location of
	the meeting;
	(2)  be recorded by audio and video; and
	(3)  have two-way audio and video communications with
	each participant in the meeting during the entire meeting.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2013.